Police: Franklin man head-butted Leominster officer

LEOMINSTER -- Police arrested a Franklin resident on charges he head-butted an officer, and put him in protective custody on Tuesday evening.

Stephen J. Canty, 39, of Franklin, was in Fitchburg when he was taken to HealthAlliance Hospital for undisclosed reason.

Canty was intoxicated and disruptive and swearing at the hospital, police Sgt. James Marois said. Officers decided to put him in protective custody but he lashed back, he said.

"He ended up throwing his head back and head-butting" Officer Dan Proietti, Marois said.

Canty was charged with disturbing the peace, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer.

Fitchburg man charged in alleged assault

FITCHBURG -- Police reports say a man forcibly removed his live-in girlfriend from his apartment after she mixed new and old loose tobacco in the same bag.

On Wednesday evening, police received a call from a Fitchburg woman who was locked out of the apartment where she lives with her boyfriend, William M. Welch, 38, at 54 Grove St..

She said they roll their own cigarettes and she was in the habit of putting fresh tobacco in the same bag as one that had previously been opened, which upset him because the two products taste different.

She said they got into an argument and he pushed her multiple times until she was outside and then locked the door behind her.

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She said he wouldn't let her back in.

Welch's name is on the lease and the girlfriend's is not, and he told police that it's not her home. Police argued that since her mail is delivered there that it is considered her home. After reporting that Welch refused to cooperate, the girlfriend said she wanted to press charges and Welch was arrested for assault and battery.

He reportedly tried to cooperate then, but it was too late. Welch was booked without incident and arraigned in Fitchburg District Court Thursday on a charge of assault and battery. His bail was set for $500 and his next scheduled court appearance is June 10.

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